Surprised? Indeed. Well, how about, somewhat shocked!

This morning, I discovered that LaToya Cantrell is ahead of Desiree Charbonnet by a whopping 18 points, according to a research firm LJR Custom Strategies on behalf of the local branch of a national education reform organization, Democrats for Education Reform.

While the New Orleans Mayor's race has focused on personality flaws, corruption, one of the issues that has really yet to surface in the public debate is "gentrification".

Has the political issue of the moment in the New Orleans Mayor’s race moved from the attacks against Desiree Charbonnet to those now against LaToya Cantrell?

Up until last week, before the New Orleans credit card reimbursement became a story, Charbonnet was the clear underdog, down by nine points from the primary election. However, since the story went public, much, if not most of the conversation has centered upon Cantrell and not Charbonnet, and much of it is negative.

And there’s more…

That is essentially the message from the Desiree Charbonnet’s For Mayor campaign in the ongoing LaToya Cantrell’s credit card controversy.

Charbonnet and Cantrell are the remaining candidates for New Olreans Mayor opening.  The election is November 18.

How might LaToya Cantrell’s recent New Orleans credit card flap translate into Desiree Charbonnet get more of the middle-class black and the conservative white voter support that went to other candidates, particularly, Judge Michael Bagneris and Troy Henry in the New Orleans Mayor’s race primary?

Indeed, the New Orleans Mayor’s race just got a lot more interesting.

The issue is—not whether the city’s education system is adequate, or how to improve our economic development deficiencies or whether we have money for pumping water.

No. Right now, for one candidate who is now running commercials--the focus should be on credit cards, belated payments for personal expenses and potential violations of law.

When one is down 9-points or so, with three weeks left to go until the final round-- the New Orleans Mayor’s race runoff elections--what are your options?

You jab here and there until you can swing the uppercut.  That’s what Desiree Charbonnet appears to be doing lately.

The endorsements continue to flow, one for Cantrell another for Charbonnet.

Last night, one of the leading organizations in New Orleans, The Alliance For Good Government endorsed LaToya Cantrell for New Orleans Mayor. During the general election, The Alliance backed Micahel Bagneris, who came in third place during the primary. Bagneris has also supported Cantrell for mayor over Desiree Charbonnet.

One of the two well-respected New Orleans-based African American newspapers, the New Orleans Tribune, has endorsed Desiree Charbonnet today for New Orleans Mayor. The other paper, the Louisiana Weekly, had endorsed her competition, LaToya Cantrell in the general election, in what was a close decision, according to the Weekly.

The endorsement for Charbonnet today is stunning. Simply stunning, not for its decision in picking Charbonnet over LaToya Cantrell but in its obvious anger towards the process.

When I really think about it, the words "slim and none" come to my mind.

That's what I think when I consider the actual chance that an African American woman, hailing from California, arriving here in 1990 as a Xavier University student, would be one of two remaining candidates to be the next Mayor of New Orleans--a historically closed-community, if ever one.